Maryland at Michigan Betting Spread, Pick & TV Info

Posted by Michael Hunt on Thursday,November 3, 2016 9:34, EDT in

With the University of Michigan at No. 3 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, the Wolverines know they control their destiny to reach the national semifinals for the first time. And it’s not likely that U-M will get a scare Saturday at home against Maryland. The Wolverines are huge favorites in the college football lines.

Maryland at Michigan Betting Spread, Pick & TV Info

When: Saturday, Nov. 5, 3:30 PM ET
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
TV: ESPN
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Maryland / Michigan
Opening NCAA Football Lines: Michigan -31 (54)

Why Bet on Maryland?

The Terps (5-3) lost 42-36 last week to Indiana. The Terrapins led 21-16 at halftime and 24-23 after a 32-yard field goal with 1:11 left in the third quarter. But Indiana closed out the quarter with a 15-yard TD run from Mitchell Paige then extended the lead to 35-24 on 2-yard plunge with 8:30 left to play. The Terrapins closed to 35-30 when Perry Hills hurdled a defender for a 5-yard TD run, his second rushing score of the game, but the 2-point conversion pass failed and Maryland couldn’t get any closer.

Maryland allowed 650 to the Hoosiers, which included 414 on the ground. Indiana gained 11.7 yards per play, converted 34 first downs, went 9 for 14 on third down and ran a brand new Wildcat formation that left Maryland’s defense confounded for much of the game.

Terps QB Hills continues to lead the Big Ten Conference in both completion percentage (66.4) and passing efficiency (149.9). Six of the Terrapins’ last nine touchdown drives have been 75 yards or longer. Seven different Terrapins have scored a rushing touchdown this season. Additionally, with just 33 more rushing yards, Maryland will have totaled its most yards on the ground since accumulating 2,487 in 2003.

Maryland’s head coach is D.J. Durkin, who was Michigan’s defensive coordinator last year. Durkin and Terrapin offensive coordinator Andy Buh both worked under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford from 2007 to 2009. Durkin’s defense has its work cut out. Michigan ranks in the top 25 of 11 different offensive categories, including third in scoring offense, fourth in turnovers lost and 15th in rushing offense, with four different running backs having rushed for 350 or more total yards this season.

Maryland looks to win its second straight game at Michigan Stadium. The Terps memorably defeated the Wolverines, 23-16, in 2014 after trailing, 16-9, heading into the fourth quarter.

Why Bet on Michigan?

The Wolverines ended a three-game losing streak to Michigan State last week, 32-23. Michigan, which led 27-10 at halftime, won in East Lansing for the first time since 2007. Jabrill Peppers had seven tackles (one sack) and a fumble recovery to go along with five rushes for 24 yards and a touchdown on offense. Amara Darboh had a career day, hauling in eight receptions (one shy of his career best) for 165 yards, while De’Veon Smith had a pair of rushing touchdowns.

Junior Wilton Speight was effective in the pocket, going 16-for- 25 for 244 yards. With three receptions, Jake Butt passed Jim Mandich (119 catches) for the second-most receptions by a tight end in U-M history. Butt now has 121 career catches.

Michigan is now 8-0 for the first time since 2006 and just the fourth time in the past 40 years (1986, 1997, 2006, 2016). U-M’s 5-0 record in Big Ten play is the best start to conference play for Michigan since its 6-0 start in 2007. U-M has led at the end of the first half in each of its eight games this year.

The Wolverines have held possession of the football for an average of 33:47 per contest (14th nationally and third in the conference). U-M has won the time of possession battle in the past seven games. The Wolverines typical starting field position is outside of their own 38-yard line while the opposition is averaging their own 25-yard line. U-M has been a balanced offensive unit this fall, averaging 249 yards per game on the ground and 228 yards passing.

This will be the sixth meeting between Michigan and Maryland. The Wolverines hold a 4-1 series lead and shut out the Terrapins by a 28-0 score last season. This will be Maryland’s fifth visit to the Big House, where the Wolverines hold a 3-1 edge in the series. U-M won the first three meetings as non-conference opponents.

Maryland at Michigan Pick:

Terrapins are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Wolverines are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 14-2 in Wolverines last 16 games overall.

Give the points in online NCAA betting and go over the total.